Officials, Community Celebrate Courthouse Addition

By
KBJR News 1

October 17, 2012Updated Oct 17, 2012 at 6:30 PM CST

Virginia, MN (Northland's NewsCenter) - The $6 million addition to the St. Louis County courthouse in Virginia is nearing completion. Officials and community members met at the site today to celebrate the project.

Instead of a ribbon cutting ceremony, a tree was planted by a group of fourth graders from the nearby school to celebrate the new addition.

The 17,000 square foot addition connects the courthouse to the Annex building and provides more room and upgrades to the Sherriff, County Attorney and probation offices. Security improvements to the more than 100-year-old building include an enclosed corridor for transporting prisoners to the courtroom.

"We all want to do all we can to provide this as a safe work environment and a safe place for the public to come. This security corridor certainly adds greatly to that," said Judge Jim Florey.

Final work on the addition is expected to be completed before the end of next year.